Pilot project on the System for the Evaulation of the Management of Forests (SEMAFOR)

Geneva

2017

150 S.

Bandaufführung

978-92-1-117123-5

17660

202300

The study presents the results of the SEMAFOR (System for the Evaluation of the Management of Forests) pilot study, which tested the method through voluntary assessment of the sustainability of forest management in European countries, on the basis of the Pan-European set of criteria and indicators. Scale-neutral indicators were developed and used to describe and assess the situation in 20 participating countries. Thresholds were used for the assessment indicators. Results which exceeded the thresholds were the subject of a discussion with national correspondents to check accuracy, put the data in context and describe the policy response, if any. The study presents detailed results, by indicator and by country, and discusses the main issues arising from the experience. This activity is experimental in nature: its only purpose is to check and test the method. The material presented does not constitute any formal conclusion or statement regarding the status of sustainable forest management in countries taking part in this exercise.Preface ; Acknowledgements ; List of national correspondents: ; List of abbreviations ; 1 Introduction and mandate ; Process and timetable ; Method ; Principles and methods of the system ; Definitions of a few key terms ; Parameters used in the assessment of sustainable forest management ; Results of the pilot study ; Results by indicator ; Results by country ; Discussion ; Feasibility of the SEMAFOR approach to assessment ; Desirability of common thresholds ; Values of the thresholds ; Alternatives to common thresholds? Weak impact of the SEMAFOR results, and possible remedies ; Conclusions ; List of references ; Annex